Chicago W’s surprise nomination after three years of studying in the U.S., 1m68 shortest second baseman Nishida, and high school senior Darvish to Major League Baseball

Kevin Shim (21, Korean name Shim Jong-hyun), the second son of “Hercules” Jeong-soo Shim, who hit 328 homers in the KBO League, was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Major League Baseball Draft. An infielder attending the University 메이저놀이터 of San Diego, he inherited his father’s blood and is a promising prospect with good power. He was named 148th in the 5th round and signed a contract for 421,100 dollars (550 million won). He took on the challenge as his son took over his father’s major league dream.

While Japanese players such as Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels), Yu Darvish (37, San Diego Padres), Kodai Senga (30, New York Mets), and Masataka Yoshida (30, Boston Red Sox) are making great strides, college students with Japanese nationality was selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

On the 12th (Korean time), the Chicago White Sox selected Oregon University infielder Rikyu Nishida (22) with the 329th overall pick in the 11th round.

It is the first Japanese player in 10 years since Kosuke Kato (29), whom the New York Yankees nominated in the 66th overall in the second round in 2013.

Gato made his major league debut in 2022 with the Toronto Blue Jays and played in 8 games before moving to Japan. He has been active in the Nippon Ham Fighters this season after going through the draft of the Japanese professional baseball. He appeared in 30 games this year and recorded a batting average of .250 (27 hits in 106 at-bats), 4 homers, and 12 RBIs.

1 m68, 68 kg. Right-handed, left-handed second baseman. Nishida is said to have the smallest physique among the draft picks.

Nishida, born in Osaka Prefecture, was born in Tohoku High School, a prestigious baseball club in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Players from major leagues such as “Great Demon” Kazuhiro Sasaki, Darvish, and Takeshi Saito graduated from this school. you

Shida started competing in the fall of his first year of high school, but he was unable to step on the Koshien ground.

After graduating from high school, he set out on a different path. After graduating in 2020, he studied abroad in the United States at the recommendation of his father to develop his dream of becoming a major leaguer.

His excellent contact and quick feet are Nishida’s strengths. As a freshman at Mount Hood Community College, he had 33 stolen bases in 36 games. He transferred to Oregon where he went 2.3 1/2 with 5 homers and 37 RBIs in 63 games this season. He stole 25 bases and scored 67 runs, his college record as the number one hitter.

After graduating from high school in Japan, he moved to the United States and was named to a major league team in three years.

The major league team nomination is the first gateway to the major leagues. He is now standing in front of the narrow gate leading to the major leagues.

Kato, who had previously reached the major leagues through a draft nomination, cheered, saying, “I lived in the United States since I was 6 years old and had time to learn English, but he moved to the United States from Japan and was drafted in 3 years. It’s a great thing.” .

He continued, “You probably know that draft nominations are not the finish line. It will be difficult, but I hope I can adapt to the environment quickly.”

Gato made his major league debut 10 years after going through each stage of the minor leagues.

Kevin Shim (21, Korean name Shim Jong-hyun), the second son of “Hercules” Jeong-soo Shim, who hit 328 homers in the KBO League, was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Major League Baseball Draft. An infielder attending the University 메이저놀이터 of San Diego, he inherited his father’s blood and is a promising prospect with good power. He…